San Clemente Seeks Federal Support to Monitor Migrant Beach Arrivals

San Clemente city officials are in the process of approaching the federal government about installing at least three infrared cameras to monitor the arrival of smuggled migrants on fishing boats.

Located in Orange County between Los Angeles and San Diego, the coastal city is approximately 74 miles north of a federal border checkpoint on Interstate 5.

“There has been an increase in the number of boats landing on the shore,” City Manager Andy Hall told OrangeCountyLawyers.com. “The landings are sporadic and unpredictable, and perhaps we are all just more conscious of the pangas given the current political climate.”

Panga boats are small, outboard-powered fishing vessels that are typically discarded after they are used to drop off migrants.

Entry into the United States seeking asylum is illegal at any location other than an official point of enter per the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

San Clemente City Councilman Rick Loeffler alleges that the Panga boat issue in the coastal city has been evident for quite some time.

“San Clemente is the first location north of the San Onofre Checkpoint capable of landing a boat on the beach,” Loeffler told OrangeCountyLawyers.com. “This activity will surely increase if the Mexican border is shut down as anticipated.”

Mayor Steven Knoblock called on Hall to contact federal officials at Customs and Border Patrol (CPB) after discussing it with the city council on Feb. 4.

Loeffler was among the councilmembers present during the meeting.

“We did discuss offering city property to [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE if they wished to install and monitor camera equipment in an effort to more effectively observe and address criminal activity,” he said.

Discussions with CPB are in very early stages, however.

“I have only had one discussion with CBP and that was to try and identify the right person to talk to at CBP,” Hall said.

11.2 Million Illegal Aliens Entered United States During the Biden Administration

More than 11.2 million illegal aliens entered the United States during the Biden administration, according to CBP data. But illegal crossings have decreased significantly since the presence of U.S. troops at the U.S.-Mexico border were expanded under President Donald Trump’s 2025 administration.

The discussion between Mayor Knoblock and San Clemente’s city council included possibly allowing the public to monitor the beaches at night and report incidents. The San Clemente Pier is one potential location where a thermal imaging camera would be installed if funding were provided by CBP.

“The Mayor suggested volunteers but the City Council hasn’t even decided whether or not to proceed, so a discussion of operations would be premature,” Hall added.

Councilman Loeffler is among those who think relying on civilians is impractical. The U.S. Census Bureau cites San Clemente’s population at some 62,000 residents.

“My thirty-seven years of law enforcement experience tells me that counting on untrained citizens to monitor infrared cameras and report criminal activity accurately is problematic,” Loeffler added. “I do not anticipate that a council majority would favor such a plan.”

CBP did not respond to requests for comment.

UPDATED 2/7/25: This article was updated to include comments from Rick Loeffler.

*Security monitor photo created with ai via Grok.
*Map image courtesy Google Maps.